Step-by-Step: 2 Simple Ways To Make Bias Tape at Home

Step 1. Find and cut the fabric's bias

Lay your fabric flat, grab one corner and fold diagonally at a 45-degree angle to find the bias of your fabric. Take your scissors or rotary cutter and cut through the fold until you have two pieces sitting on top of each other.

Step 2. Cut the strips

Decide how wide you want your bias tape to be—I’m making 1/2″ (1.3 cm), double folded bias tape for this tutorial, so each of my strips will be 2″ (5 cm) wide.

Measure 2″ (5 cm), or however wide you’ve chosen, out from the cut you just made and mark with tailor’s chalk. Then use scissors or a rotary cutter to produce strips of bias fabric.

Repeat this step until you’ve cut as many strips as you need or until you run out of fabric. Your strips should have a pointy, 45-degree edge on either end. Cut these off until you have straight edges.

Step 3. Connect the strips and sew

Place one strip on top of another, right sides together and perpendicular to each other. Pin these pieces in place forming a diagonal line to reference when sewing, then repeat with all the strips until you have one long, continuous piece of fabric. Take this to the sewing machine and sew all the seams together.

Step 4. Trim the edges and open the seams

After sewing, trim the triangular edges leaving 1/4″ (0.6 cm) and press the seams open with an iron for a cleaner finish later on. This is also a good opportunity to double check that your strip is as straight as it can be before we fold everything together.

Step 5. Fold and press

Take your strip and fold one side longways (wrong sides together) until it meets the middle and press in place. Continue down the entirety of the strip, folding and pressing, then repeat on the other side until you have two folded sides that meet. If you need single fold bias tape — congrats, you’re done! If you want double fold there’s just one more step, which you can read about below.

Step 1. Follow steps 1-5 above to first make single fold bias tape

Making double fold bias tape means making single fold bias tape, then taking one additional step.

Step 2. Fold in half

Once you have your single fold bias tape, fold it in half with the raw edges on the inside and press in place.

When folding, make sure to leave one side just a little bit wider than the other, around 1/16” (.15 cm). This allows some extra room when you’re sandwiching around your fabric so that both edges wrap evenly.

Plus, you’re supposed to place the wider edge along the back side of the fabric, so while you’re sewing on the front side you’ll be sure to catch everything with your needle.